Method of and apparatus for making seamed pipe



Dec. 31, 1935. .1.J. :NGELs- 2,025,750

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEAMED PIPE Original Filed Jan. 10, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l f55 f5" f" K55/52 0 2 5 t nl f n hv 01W 2Ee Pe Ih PS D4 E m Em S9 G1 Nl MO 1 mm. n Ewa GFJ d mme .TH J F l J a Dec. 31, 1935.

METHOD 0F AND APPARA Dec. 31, 1935. i J, .NGEL'S .Y 2,025,750

METHOD 4OF AND APPARATUS' FOR MAKING SEAMED PIPE original Filed Jan. 1o, 195i 4-sheeissneet 5 'Y 7/ y L v g 70 72 70 Dec. 31, 1935.

`, J. J. INGELS METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR MAKING SEAMED PIPE original Filed Jan. 1o, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 laumvtetlY Dee. 31, 193s UNITED s'rATiszsl MAKING SEABIED 1PIPE James J. Ingels, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 10, 1931, Serial No. 507,810 Renewed January 3l, 1935 @16 claims. (C1. 113-34) An object of this invention is to provide an im proved method of and apparatus for forming a` longitudinal seam in sheet metal pipe and for closing down the seam so as to lock the same.

5 This and other objects, as will hereinafter appear, are accomplished by this invention which is fully described in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which r Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine em.-

bodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a partial enlarged end elevationshow-v ing the upper portion of the machine as viewed 1;, on the line 3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are partial enlarged vertical sections on the lines 4, 5, and 6 of Fig. 2 vshowing a pipe in process of passing through the machine;

:3 Figs. 7 to 13 inclusive are partial enlarged vertical sections showing the rollers with a pipe pass- Y ing therethrough at various stages, and these sections 'are taken on the lines 'I to I3 respectively of Fig. 2;

i.; Fig. 14 .is a partial enlarged vertical section showing the drive for the rollers which are mounted in a vertical axis, and taken as indicated by the line I4 -of Fig. 2;.

3;) the rollers as viewed on the line I5l of'k Fig. 1;

Fig. 16 is a partial enlargedvertical section as viewed on the line I6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a partial enlarged side velevation of the automatic release for the pipe sections `AA; 5 Fig. 18 is an eniarged section as viewed on the line I8 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a top plan view of the automatic release with one part of the pipe in advanced position, and viewed as indicated by the line I3 ofv 41) Fig. 2;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19 showing the parts of the release mechanism in position for releasing the pipe sections;

Fig. 21 is a partial enlarged vertical section as 45 lviewed on the line 2|. of Fig. 20; and

. Fig. 22 is a 'section as viewed on the line 22 of Fig. 21.

The embodiment illustrated comprises a ma chine having a inain frame 25 supported pon 50 suitable legs 2 6, 21, and carrying two spaced `lower rails 28, 29, which are separated at the right-hand end of the machine by verticalstandards 30, '3|, 32, to which they are secured. 'I hese standards carry separated upper rails 33, 34, forming an 55 arm which is preferably substantially parallel to and spaced from the lower rails 28, .29`throughout their length, and being unsupported except by the three standards 30, 3| ,132.

. In general, the pipe A to be closed is fed through the machine from right to left, as viewed 5 in Fig. 2, the pipe having its edges overlapped but not touching aait-enters the machine from the right, the overlapping edges then beingv closed and interlocked by a series of rolling operations performed successively on the overlapped edges of 10 the pipe as it passes through the machine, the pipe emerging from the machine completely seamed and locked. In order to permit the pipe to close,

it is necessary that the left-hand end of the upper rails 33, 34 be entirely self-supporting, and this 15 is accomplished by giving them a cantileverconstruction whereby they are supported entirely by the right-hand end of the machine on the standards 30,f3|, 32.

To permit the pipe A to be overlapped and still 20 passed through the machine, it is necessary that these standards be deeply notched. Thus, the standard is provided with guide slots 3|)8L and 30b (Fig. 3) which are adapted to receive the overlapped ends of the pipe A which, as here 25 shown, is of rectangular form. It will be understood, however, that this pipe may be rectangular, circular, or of any other suitable shape and Fig. 15 is a partial enlarged vertical section of .size which will readily pass around the Iupper rails 33, 34. 30 The standards 3|, 32 are similarly provided with guide slots 3la and 3Ib, and 32a and` 32h, respectively. It will be noted, however, that the guide slots of the standard 3I- arel closer together than those of the standard 3U, and the 35 guide `.slots of the standard .32 are. closer to.

gether than those of the standard'3l, so that as the pipe passes .therethrough the' overlapping edges are brought nearer together' as theypass through the machine. Power for forcing the pipe through -the machine and for performing the various operations thereon is derived from a motor 35 (Fig. 2), Y.

which has a pinion 36 meshing with a large gear 31, which is carried by a shaft 38 suitably jour- 45 naled in the main frame. This shaft carries a. pinioi 39 which meshes with a gear 40 which is carried on a shaft 4I, thelatter carrying also a gear` 42, which meshes with a gear 43 on a shaft 44. Keyed to the. opposite end of the shaft 44 50 is a sprocket 45 over' whichl runs a' chain 4B which also passes around a, sprocketV 41,; on a drive shaft 48. The drive shaft 48 has keyed .thereto .a lower feed roller lhaving a peripheral V-shaped groove 50, the edges of which 'are 55 lus preferably knurled as at 5|. An upper feed roller 52, shaped complementary to the roller 49, is carried upon a shaft 53 which is suitably journaled inthe upper rails. The upper roller 52 normally bears on the roller 49 so as to be frictionally driven thereby, and serves to grip therebetween the overlapped edges of thepipe A, as shown in Fig. '1.

A series of additional upper rollers of suitable design are carried by the upper rails, and are referred to by the numerals 54, 55, 56, 51, 58, and 59. Directly beneath the upper rollers, and supported by the lower rails, are rollers 69, 6| and 62 which are driven about horizontal axesby the shafts 63, 64 and 65. Chains 66, 61 and 68 (Fig. 1) connect the shafts to the drive shaft 48 in successive order. The lower rollers shown in Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are in pairs and rotate about vertical axes, and are journaled on shafts 69 which are secured by brackets 19 to thelower rails 28 and 29, as shown in Fig. `14. The rollers have formed integral therewith bevel gears 1| which mesh with bevel gears 12 keyed to a shaft 13 which -is driven by means of chains 14 running over sprockets 15, the chains being driven from the shaft 64. Referring to Fig. 1, I have designated these horizontal rollers in their order as.16, 11, 18, 19, 89, and 8|.

As the sheet metal pipe A passes through the rst set of forming rollers 49, 52 of Fig. 7, the lower edge of the pipe is bent into the form of a shallow V-ridge or groove A1, while the upper edge A2 is bent so as to overlie the outer half of thisv V-ridge. As the pipeA passes on it en.I counters the next set of forming rolls 54, 69 of Fig. 8, which make a deeper and sharper V-ridge A3. This set of forming rollers, as well as those.

which follow, are mounted on shafts which are journaled in the same way as the shafts 48 and 53, as shown in Fig. 2. These shafts whilepresent are not all given reference numerals.

Emerging from the forming rollers 54, 69, the pipe A encounters the next set of rollers 55, 6| of Fig. 9, which changes the V-ridge A3 of Fig.`8 to a U-ridge A4 of a thinner form. As the metal pipe leaves the forming rollers 55, 6|, it passes over the closing rollers 16, 11, while the U-ridge passes between them, and is closed thereby to form a seam A5, as shown in Fig. 10. At the same time the pipe passes under the idler 56 which is carried on a shaft similar to the shaft 53, and the other shafts on which are carried the upper rollers of this series.

As the pipe continues to advance this seamv next passes between rollers 18 and 19 which In Fig. 13 isshown the last set of rollers 59, 62,

the latter having a at shallow groove 82 which serves to press the seam Aa tightly against the body of the pipe A, thereby completing the seam and closing it so that it is now completely locked.

After'this, the pipeemerges vfrom the machine with the seam'incompleted form.

It will be seen that all the idler rollers, which are .journaled in the upper rails, that is rollers n and 54 tol 59, inclusive, are not positively driven, vbut the rollers/)journaled in the .lower rails are positively driven by the chain 48.

Thus it will be seen that the pipe enters the machine with straight but overlapped edges, that isas it proceeds through the machine it is first given a shallow V-shaped ridge, and this is deepened by a series of rolling operations and then closed so as to form a seam, which is then rolled over tightly against the body of the pipe. A very simple and eiiicient form of machine is thus provided for edging and seaming sheet metal pipe.

In practice it is found that the overlapping edges of the pipe have a tendency to run through the machine unevenly, thereby twisting the pipel To overcome this I provide a mechanism which will now be explained. It includes a pair of plates 83 (Fig. 16) which may be adjustably mounted, as by means` of cap screws 84 to the upper rails 33 and 34. B elow these "plates may be secured blocks 85 attached to the lower rails 28 and 29 as by screws 85, The plates 83 may be adjusted to the proper positionrelative to the block 85u which may be in` advance of the other until the other has caught up, then both edges are releasedv simultaneously to be fed through the forming rollers.

. This object may be accomplished'by providingv two spaced bars 86 (Fig. 21) loosely mounted on a rigid'block 81 by means of pins 88 fitted into slots 89 in the bars, the bars being held vnormally in upward or interfering position by springs 99Q which rest upon the bed 25. Adjacent the upper end of the block 81 may be mounted a plate 9| 4 which is pivotally mounted in its center to a pin 92V which is bent upward at 93-and is slidably carried by the block 81.

' The bars 86 may be provided with notches 94 adapted to receive a finger which is connected to the rockable shaft 96 journaled in the lower rails and extending throughv the rail 28 to be secured Vto the cam 91. It will be seen that -the finger 95 and the cam 91 move together by virtue of their connection to the shaft 96, the cam being normally held in the position shown in Fig. 17 by a spring 91.

The outer end ofthe drive shaft 48 (Fig. 18) is provided with a collar 99 rotatable thereon b ut secured' against endwise movement by a screw |99 fitting into a groove in the shaft. 'Ihe collar is provided with a spring pressed catch |9| extending parallel with the shaft 48 and adapted to engage notches |92 in the face |93 of the sprocket 41, thereby providing a turning movement at the proper time.

Attached to the lower rail 29 is a block |94 which an arma|95 is pivoted at4 |96, the arm extending beyond the lower rail 28, as shown in Fig. 19. 'I'he arm lies in the same plane with, the pin 92 and is adapted to'be moved about the pivot `|96 thereby. A link |91 connectsthe arm |95 lto an arm |98 extending upward from 4a hub |99 which rocks'on the shaft 98. Formed lever 91.

Referring to Figs. 19 and'20, a pipe A starting through the machine and having one of its edges a forward of the other `a, the edge la engaging one o f the bars 86 which in turn moves the plate 9| about the portion 93 of the pin 92. It will be further seen in Fig. 21 that the bar is held y edges is in advance of the other and is stopped against forward movement, the feed roller 49- slip's momentarily against one side of the pipe while it continues to feed the other side of the pipe. When both edges are fed forward, .they press against the bars 86 which are equalized by the plate 9|. the. plate in turn pressing the bar 92 outward/against the arm |05, which releases the catch through the link |01, arm |09,hub |09 and cam ||0. When the catch |0| moves outward from the collar 99, it engages one of the notches |02 in the face |03 of the sprocket which is turning continuously. This engagement causes the collar to be turned by the sprocket 41, and

the roller i3 attached thereto presses the cam 91 to the left, as shown i`n Fig. 17, which in turn moves the nger 95 in counterclockwise direction, -v

as viewed in Fig. 2l, moving the bars 86 down- `ward against the action of the springs 90. This downward movement of the bars is sufficient to release the forward edgesa and g' of the pipe A,

and the feed rollers 49 and 52 then move the pipe forward to the next set of rollers 54 and 60.

As soon as the pipe is released by the bars 06, the cam I l0 and stop are brought back to normal resting/position against the collar 99 by the spring ||4 attached tothe'hub |09, as shown in Fig. 19, so that when the pin ||2 completes its Y revolution, 1t will ride against the cam surface I0 and disengage the catch |0l from lthe notches |02. I provide a'. spring pressed brake shoe I I5 to bear against the collar 99 toprevent any tendency of the collar to move out of its resting position, as shown in Fig.,1'7., It will be noted that the collar 99 makes but one revolution for each pipe A that is placed in the machine, Ehat being at the time the pipe is released by the bars 96. During the remaining timethe collar is idle on the drive shaft 49.

The advantage of having an equalizing ."levice,4

as described, is readily apparent, particularly in the case where the pipe is of great length and is unwieldy to handle. Further, it may be necessary, in the case of very large pipes, to make them of'longitudinal sections, in which case the separate sections need not be placed in the machine simultaneously, but m'ay be inserted one at a time, and the first will not be fed forward untilthe second has been fed forward even with it, when the two will proceed together.

While I have shown and describedbut a single embodiment of my invention, it is to be uliderstood that it is capable. of many modifications.

Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention -as disclosed in the appended claims.

I claim: y

1. The method of forming a longitudinal seam' in a sheet metal pipe comprising overlapping the edges of thepipe, forming a. shallow longitudinal V-ridge in one edge'. bending the other edge to 5 overlie one side of the V-ridge, deepening the V-ridge, closing the V-ridge and folding it over to form a seam, all while the pipe is fed longitudinally.

, 2. 'Ihe method of forming a longitudinal 'seam l0 in a sheet metal pipe comprising overlapping the edges of the pipe, forming a shallow longitudinal V-ridge in one edge, simultaneously bending the other edge to overlie one side ofthe V-ridge, deepening Vthe-V-ridge, closing the V-ridge and folding it over to form a seam, all while the pipe is fed longitudinally.

3. 'I'he method of forming a longitudinal seam in a sheet metal pipe comprising overlapping the edges of the pipe, rolling a shallow longitudinal V-ridge in one edge, simultaneously rolling the other edge to overlie one side of?y the v-rldge, deepening .the V-ridge, closing the. V-ridge and folding it over to form a seam, all while the pipe is fed longitudinally. 25 4. The method of forming a longitudinal seam.- in a sheet metal pipe comprising overlapping the edges of the pipe, forming a shallow longitudinal V-ridge in one edge, bending the other edge to overlie one-side of the v-rldge, deepening the V-ridge, closing the V-ridge and folding it over to form a seam, said operations being performed lby rolling,fall while' the pipe is fed longitudinally.

5. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam in the overlapping edges of a sheet metal pipe comprising a frame, an arm parallel to the frame and-about which the pipe being formed passes longitudinally, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end of the machine. said 'supports having slots permitting the over- 40 lapped edges of the pipe to pass, means for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, means forv closingthe seam, and moans for propellingthe pipe longitudinally of the arm. 1,

6. A machine for forming alongitudinal Vseam 4"" in lthis overlapping edges of a sheet-metal pipe comprising a frame, an arm parallel to the frame and about which the pipe being formed longitudinally, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end-of the-machine, said supports having slots permitting the overlapped edges of the pipeto pass, rollers for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, means for clo's- '1. A machine fpr forming a longitudinal seam/ y in the overlapping edges of a sheet metal pipe comprising a frame, an ann parallel to the frame and` about which the pipe being .formedl passes longitudinally',l supports ,connecting the frame and arm at the entering end of the machine, said supports having slotspermitting the overlapped edges of the pipe to pass, feed rollers for feeding the pipe through the machine, rollers for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, and means for closing the seam. l L

' V3. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam in the overlappmg-edges of twoadjacent edges of sheet metal comprising a frame, anfarmpar- 7o allel to the frame and about 'which the pipe being formed passes longitudinally, supports connecting the frame and arm at .the enter-lng' end of the machine, said supportsfhaving slots permit- `ting the overlapped edges of thepipe topass,

4 f feed rollers for feeding the sheet metal through the machine, rollers forforming a seam on the overlappingl edges, means for closing the seam,

and means for preventing one forward end of an overlapping.. edge moving forward in advance of the other.

9. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam in theoverlapping edges of a sheet metal pipe comprising a frame, an arm parallel to the frame and about Whichthe pipe being formed passes longitudinally, supports connecting the frame -andarm at the entering end of themachine, said 'comprising' a frame,A an arm 'parallel to the frame and, aboutwhichthe pipe beiug formed passes longitudinally, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end ofthe machine, said supports having slots permitting the overlapped edges of the pipe to pass, feed rollers for feeding the pipethrough'the machine, rollers for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, and means for closing the same including rollers having axes at right angles to the axes `of the seam forming rollers.

11. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam inthe overlapping edges of a sheet metal pipe comprising a frame, Ian arm parallel to the frame and about'whi'ch the pipe being formed passes longitudinally, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end ofthe machine, said supports having slots permitting Vthe overlapped ing the pipe throughuthe machine,' rollers' for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, and

means for closing the same, including seam. closing rollers. having axes at right angles to the arm at lthe entering end of themachine, said supports having slots permitting the overlapped eedgespi! the pipe to pass, feed -rollers having engaging surfaces located between'the arm and frame for feeding the pipe through themachine, rollers for forming -a seam on the overlapping edges, means for closing the seam, the forming rollers being carried .by the arm and by the frame,

the forming rollers being carried by the arm and certain of the rollers onthe frame being geared together. Y 13. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam in the overlapping edges of la sheet metal pipe comprising a frame and about which the pipe being formed passes longitudinally, an arm parallel to the frame, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end of the machine, said supports having slots permitting the overlapped edgesof the pipe to pass, feed-rollers having engaging surfaces located-between the arm and frame for feeding the pipe through the machine, rollers for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, means for closing the seam,

by the frame, certain of the rollers on the frame being geared together, means for preventing said pipe entering said feed rollers until the two edges are substantiallyeven', said means including two fingers each of which engages one of said edges. 14. A machine for forming a longitudinal seam in the. overlapping edges of a sheet metal pipe comprising a. frame and about which the pipe being formed vpasses longitudinally, an. arm par-- allel to the frame, supports connecting the frame and arm at the entering end of the machine, said supports having `slots permitting the overlapped e`dges of the pipe to pass, feed rollers having engaging surfaces located between the arm and frame for feeding the pipe through the machine, 4rollers for forming a seam on the overlapping edges, means for closing the seam, othe forming rollers beinglx caried`by the arm and by the frame, certain of the rollers on the frame being gear together, means for preventing said pipe entering said feed rollers until the two edges are substantially even, said means includingtwo fingers each of which engages one of saidedges, edges of the pipe to pass,r feed rollers for feedsaid fingers moving out of the path of said pipe r as the two edges advance substantially evenly. 40'

15. The method ofvuniting two sheets of metal comprising overlapping the meeting edges of the sheets, forming a shallow longitudinal V-ridge in one edge, simultaneously bending the other edge to overlie oneE side of the V-ridge, deepening the V-ridge, closing the vri'idge and folding it over to form a seam, all while fthe sheets progress longitudinall 16. The method of uniting two sheets of metal comprising overlapping the meeting edges of-the closing the, V-ridge and folding it over to form a y seam, said operations being performed by rolling; all while the sheetsprogress longitudinally.

' JAMIES J. INGELS. 

